The HappyEdugator

People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

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Sunday, February 14, 2016

Valentines, Heart Awareness Month, and Presidents' Day

February is Heart Month in America and Canada. This special month was established to help raise awareness about heart disease and how to prevent it, since heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States.

Heart Month is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Both organizations encourage people to help spread awareness about heart disease and stroke by doing simple things such as sending emails and e-cards to friends and family members that contain information about heart health. The organizations also encourage people to organize community events and campaigns to help raise awareness. I'm going to do my part by sharing my recent experience, which is why I have been absent from the blog for the last few weeks.

I am writing this post because I had a wake-up call myself this month. I was scheduled to have surgery on my foot, and went for the usual pre-op testing. A few days later my doctor called to say my EKG was abnormal and my glucose was high. I was scheduled to see a cardiologist the next morning. They ran another EKG and I was told I had had a heart attack! I did not know it...I could not think of a time when I noticed anything serious, although I have had several bouts of indigestion. This is called a "silent" heart attack, which can happen to women, who generally have different and milder symptoms than men.

On top of it all, I was also diagnosed with type II diabetes. Double whammy. In fact, the diabetes may have caused the problems with my heart. So, I am undergoing more tests this week and making some major changes in my diet. I feel the need to warn everyone out there, especially women, to really take stock in what you eat and how much you excercise. I never thought it would happen to me! It can happen to you, too, especially if you eat a diet that is unhealthy and don't get enough excercise. I can make changes now, but I will always have to stick my finger and take medications for the rest of my life.

Go Red For Women launched National Wear Red Day in 2003. It takes place every February on the first Friday of the month (the exact day I was diagnosed), encouraging women to wear red as a symbol for heart awareness. Go Red For Women developed primarily because heart disease was seen as a primarily male affliction, with research ignoring gender differences. Since then, the movement has claimed to have helped nearly 90 percent of women successfully implement at least one lifestyle change, more than a third of women lose weight, and more than 40 percent of women discuss heart health with their doctors.

One in three women die of heart disease or stroke each year, according to Go Red For Women. These deaths are easily preventable through diet and exercise, as well as the consistent monitoring of cholesterol levels. In 2004, the American Heart Association began working to inspire, motivate and educate women about heart health. Women need to realize that heart attack symptoms may not be the same as for men.You can read about warning signs here: WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK

The American Heart Association has lesson plans for educators for elementary and middle school that are available for free! I encourage you to go to their website and get these free materials. We need to educate our children so that they can lead healthy lives. Here is the link: FREE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CLASSROOM RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS

I am now on a mission to eat right and be healthy, but unfortunately, as my cardiologist said, I should have been doing that all along. I hope this post will help you eat healthier and stay in shape. Please learn from my mistakes. :)

So happy Valentines Day! I hope your heart stays healthy, and even if you don't have a special someone, that you have a great day and tell the ones you love that you love them.

Tomorrow is Presidents' Day, and many of you are out of school, or having a snow day from winter storm Olympia. If you are going stir crazy, here are some resources that you can check out from my TPT store. Oh, and I am excited that one of my freebies was featured in the TPT newsletter today! :)